Receptacle stand or the like



W. R. BECKMAN RECEPTACLE STAND OR THE LIKE Sept 24. 1940.

,. led Nov. 15, 193-7 w. J [a 2 41 Patented Sept. 24 I 4 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECEPTACLE STAND OR THE LIKE William R. Beckman, South Bend, Ind.,assignor to The Birdsell Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application November 15, 1937, Serial No. 174,549 '1 Claims. (Cl. 248-152) My invention relates to tub supports for washthe reference numeral Ill indicates the washing ing machines or other structures composed of machine tub and II the supporting frame as a assembled sections and has reference more parwhole which has a housing I2 at one side which ticularly to facilities for and the method of conextends up above the top of the tub i and has necting and reinforcing the sections and securmounted thereon a wringer l3, which, together ing other parts thereto. with the washing instrumentalities of the wash- It is desirable in certain structures, for exing machine is operated by a motor i4 under the ample tub supports for washing machires,- to tub. construct same of relatively light gauge sheet The tub sup II with which this invention metal sections which must be joined to ether is particularly concerned, is made substantially 1 securely and properly reinforced to insure ample entirely-0f a relatively light u e e t m a strength and rigidity to maintain the desired stamped in appropriate quarter sections l5, each shape, support the intended load and withstand of which quarter section has a half leg formation the strains of any parts connected therewith. I at e h nd wi h a c nn n w ll of a m- The principal objects of my invention are to ate form, as Sh in 8- a paneled as a 15 provide improved structures, such astub supports I8 if desired for strengthening and appearance. for washing machines composed of assembled Above the panel IS the web ll may flare outsheet metal sections and also an improved method wardly and upwardly as at I9 to an upstanding of assembling and reinforcing same; to join the rim "within which is seated the lower end of sections in an improved manner which is ex- I the tub la, the bottom contour of which isindi- 20 peditious and insures a permanent, inseparable cated by the dotted line 2| in Fig. 1. connection; to utilize the section joining facili- Each half leg formation it is of sufficient ties for reinforcing the assembled structure and lengt to pp e tu W at he d s d 6- attaching other parts thereto; to provide imvation and has an inturned flange 22 at the side 25 proved means for and an improved method of which extends throughout the length of the leg 25 attaching supports, boxes and other parts to the formation and has a curled edge 23. This curled assembled structure and at the same time inedge extends in a straight line from top to botcrease the inherent strength of the reinforcing tom of the leg formationv i6 and accordingly the facilities; and to make such attachments in a. flange 22 will be of varying width if the leg forconcealed manner without any external evidence mation i8 has a longitudinally curved contour as 30 thereof, these and other objects being accomin the illustrated structure and it will be noted plished as described hereinafter and as shown in that the upper end of the leg formation is curved the accompanying drawing in which, inwardly as at 24 to the upstanding flange 20 J a Fig. 1 is a side view of a washing machine to close the upper end of the leg formation above embodying my invention; the flange 22 and curled edge 23 thereof. 35

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, on the Forjoining these quarter sections l5 to form line 2-2 of Fig. l, of one of the sections of an annular tub support, extruded metal bars 25 which the tub support is composed; -are employed having an undercut channel 26 Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the section conalong the side with overlying margins 21 along 40 necting and reinforcing elements; the opposite sides of the channel, said channel 40 Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line being of suitable shape and size to accommodate 4-4 of Fig. 3; the curled edge 23 of two adjoining quarter sec- Flg. 5 is an enlarged view on the line 5-5 of tions I! when the flanges 22 thereof are arranged Fig. 3 of the internal frame connection with the in contacting face to face relation as indicated left side of the socket member in section; in Fig. 6 and at the right hand end of Fig. 2. 45

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line Thus in the present structure of four quarter 6-6 of Fig. 3; and sections four bars 25 are employed and the sec- Fig. '7 is an enlarged bottom view of the lower tions assembled by merely arranging them in end end of the connecting and reinforcing member to end relation in annular series so asto form of Fig. 3. an annular shell with the flanges 22 of the ad- In the accompanying drawing I have, for the Joining sections in contacting face to face relapurpose of illustration shown my invention in tion and slipping a bar 25 endwise from theconnection with a supporting frame for a washlower end of each pair of leg formations IS in ing machine, although the invention is not limembracing relation along the out-turned curled ited thereto, and in'this illustrative embodiment edges 23 thereof thereby interlocking the sections together to form the tub supporting unit, and it will be noted that the upper ends of said bars 25 are covered and concealed by the closed together curved top 24 of the adjoiningleg formations and that the. bars are concealed throughout their length by their connected leg formations. These bars 25 are of such length that when fully inserted the lower ends thereof are substantially flush with the lower ends of the leg formations and the channels 28 of proper size to embrace the pairsof curled edges 23' tightly therein so that when applied, the flanges 22 are tightly clamped together and the adjoining sections thus rigidly and inseparably joined to form a strong substantial tub support, the legs of which are effectively reinforced throughout their length by the connecting bars.

Obviously any desired number of sections may be employed instead of four quarter sections as shown herein and joined together in like manner with channeled bars 25.

Preferably the bars 25 are of double channeled form each with a channel 28 along the inner side, preferably like the channel 26, for mounting brackets or other fittings on the bars 25, these inside channels 28 being employed in the present structure for mounting tub holders or seats 29, brace connections 38 and caster sockets 3| in appropriate places thereon. Each of these brackets or fittings 29, 30 and 3! has an elongated T-shaped flange 32, of a shape and size to fit snugly in the channel 28, which is slipped into the channel 28 to the proper elevation and locked therein at the selected place. Such locking may be accomplished in any convenient manner, either by squeezing the embracing walls of the channel 28, by means of an appropriate tool, into a sufficiently tight clamping engagement with the respective T flange to lock the flange 32 rigidly therein, or by squeezing the walls of the channel along the unoccupied portions to reduce the size of the channel between and at the ends of the flanges 32 as indicated at 33 or by punching the channel walls at the ends of the flanges 32 as indicated at 34, or by providing the flanges 32 with depressions 35 at suitable places and punching the metal of the channel walls therein as indicated at 36.

or other means may be employed, although it is preferred to avoid pins and the like which may necessitate providing the bars 25 with openings or apertures which might impair their strength. These bars 25, being of uniform cross sectional shape throughout their length, may be conveniently made in long lengths by an extruding process and merely cut to proper length, and are of a metal that may be readily shaped to clamp or lock the flanges 32 of the fittings 29, 38 and 3| in the chahnels 28, aluminum being preferably employed, not only because of the advantage of light weight, but also because subsequent shaping thereof as in clamping the flanges of the fittings in the channel or in contracting the channel between and at the ends of the flanges as at 33 not only does not impair the strength thereof but in fact increases the strength and rigidity thereof, thereby enhancing their effectiveness as supporting and reinforcing elements. a v

Each channel bar 25 has a tub holder or seat 29 secured in the channel 28 thereof at the upper end, all being at the same elevation to engage the bottom margin of the tub i0 which is curved as at 31 and the seating faces of the tub Any one ormore of these locking means may be employed,-

holders 29 being correspondingly curved as shown in Fig. 3 to properly fit same and each channel bar 33 also has a caster socket 3i secured in the channel 28 thereof at the lower end to receive the stem of a caster 39 by which-the washing machine is movably supported, said caster sockets being preferably formed with a flange 40 at the bottom engaged under the lower end of the inner half of the channel bar 25 within and concealed by the lower end of the respective leg formations I6.

A frame, part only of .which is shown, and indicated as a whole by the reference numeral 4| in Fig. 2, is provided within the assembled washing machine support to brace the assembled structure and provide a mounting for operative parts, and in the present instance comprises a platform portion 42 with a pair of brace bars 43 extending laterally therefrom near each end. Only one end portion of the platform 42 and the brace bars 43 at that ,end are shown in the drawing, but it is to be understood that the other end of said platform is similarly equipped with two sets of brace bars 43, thus providing four sets of such brace bars 43, each of which said sets is provided at its outer end with a fitting 44 for attachment to a brace connector 30 of the respective channel bar 25, thereby interlocking the four channel bars to frame 4!.

Each fitting 44 is provided at its outer end with a vertically extending pintle like formation 45, preferably with rounded upper and lower ends and circumferential grooves 46 and each brace connector 39 is provided with a correspondingly elongated stirrup 4'! with a substantially cylin drical opening 48 therethrough open along the inner side to receive the formation of the fitting 44 endwise therein. The walls of the stirrup 47 are malleable and after the formation 45 has been inserted in the opening 48 the stirrup walls are contracted by means of a suitable tool to engage the rounded end of the formation 45 and the grooves 46 thereof so as to lock the formation 45 securely and permanently in the contracted opening 48 of the stirrup 41, thereby securing the frame 4i likewise securely and permanently within the tub support and insuring a strong and effective bracing of leg formations thereof.

The housing l2 by which the wringer is supported and through which driving connections therefor are provided from the motor i4 is preferably secured to the side of the tub support, preferably between a pair of leg formations of one of the sections 11 as indicated in Fig. 2 and may be secured to such section in any convenient manner, and suitable openings will of course be provided through the wall of the section I! I from within the tub supporting structure. to the interior of the housing 12 for power communication, the particular manner of attachment of the housing H. to the section l1 and the arrangement of such openings thereto not being particularly shown as they form no part of the present invention.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a construction and a method which may be advantageously employed in making tub supports for washing machines and other similar structures of assembled sheet metal sectionsthat the assembling of the sheet metal sections is greatly facilitated and the sections and other parts are securely and rigidly united in a manner to obviate any release or relaxation of the connections such as occur when bolts or other similar fastenlngs are employed; that all connections are made with reinforcing members so that no strain is imposed thereby on the.

sheet metal parts and in such a manner that there are no exposed connections or connecting means; that the connecting means for the sheet metal sections serve at the same time to effectively reinforce the assembled structure and are of such a character that their strength and rigidity is increased by the shaping thereof in the preferred manner of attaching parts thereto, and it is to be noted that the manner of attaching fittings to the channeled reinforcing members permits location thereof at elevations selected at the time of attachment without the necessity of previously shaping, drilling or otherwise preparing the parts for attachment of the fittings at a selected location.

While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, I am aware that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the principles of my invention, the scope of which is to be determined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. .A receptacle stand or the like comprising a plurality of substantiallyarcuate sheet metal sectionsjoined together consecutively inthe form of an annular shell, each section having a leg extension at each end combined with a corresponding leg extension of the adjacent section to form a supporting leg'for the assembled structure. an elongated member extending along and joining the adjoining leg extensions and having a channel extending lengthwise thereof at the inner side, and a frame within the shell having fittings engaged in the said channels of said members.

2. A receptacle stand or the like comprising a plurality of substantially arcuate sheet metal sections joined together consecutively in the form of an annular shell, each section having a leg extension at each end combined with a corresponding leg extension of the adjacent section to form a supporting leg for the assembled structure, an elongated member extending along and joining the adjoining leg extensions and having a channel extending lengthwise thereof at the inner side, and a frame within the shell having fittings engaged in the said channels of said members, the walls of said channels'being deformed to lockthe said fittings therein.

3. A receptacle stand or the like comprising a plurality of substantially arcuate sheet metal sections joined together consecutively in the form of an annular shell, each section having a leg extension at each end combined with a corresponding leg' extension of the adjacent section to form a supporting leg for the assembled structure, each of said adjoining leg extensions having a flange therealong extending inwardly of the shell, a connecting member extending along the flanges of the adjoining leg extensions'and having two channels within one of which said flanges are interlocked, said connecting members having seat members secured in their other channels at the upper end thereof and extending inwardly of the shell to support a receptacle in the upper end of the enclosure.

4. A receptacle stand or the like comprising a plurality of substantially arcuate sheet metal sections joined together consecutively in the form of an annular shell, each section having a leg extension at each end combined with a corresponding leg extension of the adjacent section to form a supporting leg for the assembled structure, each of said adjoining leg extensions having a flange therealong extending inwardly of the shell, a connecting member extending along the flanges of the adjoining leg extensions and having two channels within one of which said flanges are interlocked, said connecting members having caster sockets secured in their other channels atthe lower end thereof and a caster engaged in each caster socket.

5. A receptacle stand or the like comprising a plurality of substantially arcuate sheet metal sections joined together consecutively in the form of an annular shell, each section having a leg extension at each end combined with a corresponding leg extension of the adjacent section to form a supporting leg for the assembled structure, each of said adjoining leg extensions having a flange therealong extending inwardly of the shell, a connecting member extending along the flanges of the adjoining leg extensions and having two channels within one of which said flanges are interlocked, a plurality of spaced fittings secured in the other channel of each connecting member, a receptacle supported on the uppermost fitting of each connecting member, a caster engaged in the lowermost fitting of each connecting member, and a frame within the shell and secured to an intermediate fitting of each connecting member.

6. A receptacle stand or the like comprising a plurality of sheet metal sections joined together consecutively in the form of an annular shell,

, each section having at each end a leg extension throughout their length to hold the sections in assembled relation and said annular shell being formed with an internal annular seat at the mp, each leg extension having a reinforcing member extending upwardly to and provided at said annular seat with a seating member in cooperative seating relation with the annular seat.

7. A receptacle stand or the like comprising a plurality of sheet metal sections joined together consecutively in the form of an annular shell, each section having at each end a formation combined with a similar formation of the adjoining section to constitute an external pilaster like member and supporting leg at the juncture of the sections, and section joining means within and extending substantially throughout the length of the pilaster like member and support- 

